What we talk about when we talk about Al Franken’s taxes
Monday, April 28, 2008 at 1:47 pm
- 4 Comments
Yes, it’s true that, as Andy Birkey noted here this morning, it takes a certain amount of chutzpah for the Minnesota GOP to hurl stones at Al Franken’s tax debts in California. It’s also true that Franken’s tax issues appear to be fairly nickel-and-dime stuff as IRS troubles go.
Be that as it may, stories like this spell real trouble for Franken. The point in this instance isn’t tax infractions. It’s the opening the story creates to remind working class Minnesotans that Franken is a celebrity with business interests as far-flung as California and New York, and a carpetbagger to boot. Call this ironic if you like, since Franken is actually from Minnesota and Coleman is not, but this is how the Minnesota public at large receives the two of them. And not entirely without reason, since Coleman built his career and his name here and Franken did not.
Does it matter? Political transplants from the Bush clan to Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney have had their way with the voters of adopted states; that’s an old story by now. But Franken faces a special obstacle that the political media, including the local political media, routinely overlook: This is the Midwest, and if you have ever spent much time in the non-urban expanses of states like Iowa, Wisconsin, or yes, Minnesota, you pretty quickly discover that there is a pronounced distaste for the culture of Hollywood and for anything or anyone susceptible to tarring as a “Hollywood liberal.”
This is an old story too, but the fact it’s rarely discussed anymore doesn’t mean the sentiment has passed. Once you get past the city lights and out to the countryside, there’s an abiding popular distaste here in the hinterlands for those rich, famous, godless souls who try to parlay their celebrity into telling regular folk what to do. It’s red meat to that portion of the Republican base that regards itself in a culture war with Hollywood and the mass media, and I suspect it leaves a bad taste in many less pious mouths as well. Every time the Norm Coleman campaign reaches back to Franken’s books and TV appearances and his show-biz-related tax records, it is also not so subtly reminding a certain kind of voter that he’s not one of us.
4 Comments
Comment posted April 28, 2008 @ 11:11 pm
Speakin’ O’ “Hollywood Celebrities” Let’s not forget about Mrs. Senator Coleman….I haven’t!!!
The GOPers have been tossin’ stones at Franken about Franken’s business dealings, but it seems Mrs. Senator Coleman might have some business problems of her own, as I posted over on http://www.MnBlue.com earlier today:
Unreported Business Income
Well, the republiCons are busy, tossin’ crap up against the wall, to see what sticks.
Hey – sounds like fun!
Wait’ll the state o’ California gets my letter!!!
Dear Ms. Stanislaus,
I invite your attention to Laurie Coleman’s website:
Senator Coleman’s United States Senate Financial Disclosure Form doesn’t list Laurie Coleman’s involvement in selling these Blo jobs.
Clearly, the number of these Blo jobs Laurie Colemen has sold, and how much money she has made from said Blo jobs, is unaccounted for.
This will require significant investigation to determine Laurie Coleman’s involvement in selling Blo jobs.
Your prompt attention is appreciated.
Sincerely,
TwoPutt Tommy
California State Franchise Tax Board
P. O. Box 1565
Rancho Cordova CA 95741
Comment posted April 29, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
When We Talk About Franken’s Taxes …we’re NOT talkin’ ’bout Coleman’s wife’s Blo & Go income, nor republiCon Ron’s shoddy paperwork problems.
And that’s just the way the GreedOverPrinciples party likes it.
Comment posted April 28, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
Speakin' O' “Hollywood Celebrities” Let's not forget about Mrs. Senator Coleman….I haven't!!!
The GOPers have been tossin' stones at Franken about Franken's business dealings, but it seems Mrs. Senator Coleman might have some business problems of her own, as I posted over on http://www.MnBlue.com earlier today:
Unreported Business Income
Well, the republiCons are busy, tossin' crap up against the wall, to see what sticks.
Hey – sounds like fun!
Wait'll the state o' California gets my letter!!!
<font color=”blue”><dl><dd>Selvi Stanislaus, Executive Drirector
California State Franchise Tax Board
P. O. Box 1565
Rancho Cordova CA 95741</dd></dl></font>
Dear Ms. Stanislaus,<!–break–><font color=”blue”><dl><dd>A couple of months ago, it was widely reported that Laurie Coleman, wife of Minnesota Republican Senator Norm Coleman, was actively engaged in selling Blo `n Go's in the State of California.</dd></dl></font>
I invite your attention to Laurie Coleman's website:
Senator Coleman's United States Senate Financial Disclosure Form doesn't list Laurie Coleman's involvement in selling these Blo jobs.
Clearly, the number of these Blo jobs Laurie Colemen has sold, and how much money she has made from said Blo jobs, is unaccounted for.
This will require significant investigation to determine Laurie Coleman's involvement in selling Blo jobs.
Your prompt attention is appreciated.
Sincerely,
TwoPutt Tommy
Comment posted April 29, 2008 @ 7:42 am
When We Talk About Franken's Taxes …we're NOT talkin' 'bout Coleman's wife's Blo & Go income, nor republiCon Ron's shoddy paperwork problems.
And that's just the way the GreedOverPrinciples party likes it.
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